African bishops hold Mass for peace in violence-plagued eastern DR-Congo

The bishops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi and Rwanda have called for peace and security in Goma, the capital of the North Kivu region in eastern DRC that has been battered the past two years by a conflict between warring factions involving all three countries.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of Kinshasa (DRC) led the bishops and thousands of local Catholics in a special Mass for peace last Sunday in Goma. The Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC) — which included the bishops of DRC, Burundi and Rwanda– had announced the liturgy at the end of its January 23-26 plenary assembly in Ruhengeri, Rwanda.

During the Eucharistic celebration in Goma, the cardinal strongly criticized the political actors of these three Central African countries who, in his view, incite division and conflict because they have an interest in the conflict continuing in order to pursue their selfish interests .

Rutshuru and Masisi, two territories in North Kivu, have been embroiled in a conflict since 2021. On the one side are M23 rebels who are supported by units of the Rwandan army. On the other are the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), which is being helped by other armed groups, Burundian auxiliaries, and two foreign military companies. Several thousand soldiers and militiamen are involved, as well as artillery, fighter jets, and, more recently, three combat drones – one of which was destroyed on January 24in a landing collision, and a second is said to have been shot down on January 8 by the M23.